Growing watermelons in the open field at the cottage

Growing watermelons in the open field under the power of any gardener. To increase the yield, you must follow some rules, then you will be able to please your relatives with an excellent harvest, thanks to which you can improve the body.

Soil selection

Many gardeners think about how to grow a watermelon in the country. Often, most of them believe that this venture will not lead to a big harvest, but as practice shows, this is not always the case. You can grow watermelons not only in warm lanes, but also in the Urals, Siberia, the main thing is to find suitable seeds, but you should also choose a good soil. For melon crops it should be light, sandy and waterproof. Thanks to such a land, the water will not stagnate, and the root system will develop normally. Do not plant watermelons in heavy and clay soils. They will not allow the plant to develop normally, so the yield will be small. If you still want to try to grow watermelons on this ground, you should try to improve it. This will require the introduction of sand and humus into the ground.

In order to harvest a good crop, watermelons should be planted in the place of alfalfa or wheat. It is worth avoiding the land where previously the nightshade grew, as the yield will be low. It is advisable to determine in advance with the planting of watermelons and in the winter to bring in the soil of chicken or cow manure. However, you should not be zealous with fertilizers, because they can increase the acidity of the soil. If it is higher than 7.0 pH, then watermelons simply will not grow. That is why, before planting seeds, it is necessary to measure it with a special device.

How to grow watermelons in the open field (video)

Ideal landing time

Reflecting on how to grow a watermelon in the country, you should choose the right time for planting. This plant is recommended to be planted in the ground in May, when the soil temperature will be 10-15 ° C. Often gardeners immediately plant seeds in the ground, not checking them for germination. However, this may lead to the fact that there will be few plants, since most of the seeds simply do not germinate. For this reason, it is better to wet them, cover with gauze and wait 2-3 days. When the shoots hatch, it will be possible to reject unfit and plant the best specimens into the ground.

Some gardeners want to get a harvest faster, so they plant seeds in poorly heated by the sun soil. You should not do this, because shoots may die due to temperature changes. After all, it is still cold at night, so the seeds will simply freeze.

In order to grow watermelons in the open ground does not cause any trouble, it is recommended to plant this plant in a well-hole manner. And in each of them you need to add a little ash. When planting watermelon seeds need to adhere to the scheme, that is, 1 square. m no more than 1 plant, because melons love the sun, they do not tolerate blackouts. From 5 to 10 seeds are placed in each well, as half of them will die. Subsequently, you will need to leave in the hole only 1-2 plants, which will be the most robust.

A good solution would be not only to germinate the seeds, but also to plant them first in plastic cups. This allows you to get healthy seedlings, which subsequently will not freeze. As soon as the plants get stronger, they can be planted in the ground. In the hole should be placed no more than 2 plants, otherwise they will feel uncomfortable when they grow up. Covering the seedlings with a film is not necessary, the main thing is to water the watermelons moderately so that they gain strength and subsequently give a good harvest.

Plant Care

Care for watermelons in the open ground is simple. At first, the seeds should be kept under the film, watering as the ground dries. When the seedlings are fully strengthened, and the weather is warm outside, the film should be removed and the watering should be stopped when the fruit is tied. It is very important to constantly weed the earth, otherwise the watermelons will die due to lack of light. Do not forget to regularly loosen the soil, then the air will freely penetrate to the roots. Manure should not be added to the soil, as this can be detrimental to the plants.

After 2 weeks after planting the plants should be fed with nitrate. You will need to dilute 20 g of the product in 20 l. In 1 bush poured 2 liters of solution. When the plant bud appears, it is recommended to repeat the feeding. Often, on each bush over time appears 2-6 ovaries. So that they do not die, you should cover the plants with a film when the temperature drops. In windy weather, it is better to sprinkle the lash with moist earth. If you do not heed these tips, the cultivation of watermelons in the open field will not be successful.

When the plant gives fruit, they need to be turned over regularly so that they ripen as evenly as possible. Harvesting should be carried out in August, but you must first determine whether the fruit is ripe. After all, some watermelons may lag behind in development, while others, on the contrary, be ahead of their fellows.

Before harvesting, consider several signs of ripeness. The finished fruit has a glossy surface, dry bract. The absence of hairs on the stalk also speaks of watermelon maturity. It should knock on it, if the sound is deaf, you can pick a berry.

Following the simple rules, you can easily take care of the seedlings and gather a good harvest from a small area, which will please relatives and friends. However, you should not eat and sell everything, you can make good jam from the fruit, which can be enjoyed even in the winter season. Some housewives cook it from crusts, so do not throw them away.